RECOMMENDATION

There is fair evidence to include serial clinical examination of the hips by a trained clinician in the periodic health examination of all infants until they are walking independently.
(level II-1 and III evidence, grade B recommendation)

There is fair evidence to exclude general ultrasound screening for DDH from the periodic health examination of infants.
(level II-1 and III evidence, grade D recommendation)

There is insufficient evidence to evaluate the effectiveness of abduction therapy (level III evidence; grade C recommendation), but good evidence to support a period of close observation for newborns with clinically detected DDH (level I evidence; grade A recommendation). However, there is insufficient evidence to determine the optimal duration of observation (level III evidence; grade C recommendation).
(level III evidence, grade C recommendation; level I evidence, grade A recommendation)

Before each meeting, every member of the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care (CTFPHC) and of the Evidence Review and Synthesis Centre (ERSC) completes a Declaration of Affiliations and Interests Form to report any potential conflicts of interest (e.g., financial, business or professional, intellectual). Disclosure is required for each new topic, and disclosures must be updated to reflect any changes that have occurred since an initial disclosure. Completed forms are kept on file, and outside experts who are asked to comment on the recommendations and documents prepared by the CTFPHC are also required to complete disclosure forms, which are kept on file. For more information, please refer to the CTFPHC’s Procedure Manual.